chapter 2

The streets weren’t very spacious and were quite crowded, especially at noon . But the old man kept on walking leisurely . He always found the crack in the crowd and brushed right past .

Gu Nan did not hesitate to follow the old man, gradually matching his pace . Her gaze alternating between the man and the purse at his waist .

The rope connected to the purse is tied with a slip knot, allowing it to be easily removed with a single pull . This method is convenient for withdrawing money but equally convenient to steal . If it was an actual knot, Gu Nan would just walk away without saying anything .

The purse looks heavy, and it swayed with each step .

Now all that’s left is to wait for the opportune moment .

Gu Nan licked her lips and scanned forward . There seems to be a very popular food stall in front . There are about seven or eight people standing in line . This place should be equivalent to a downtown market and with many people passing through .

“Cough . ” The old man glanced at the stalls . In the past, he may have stopped to have a good cup of wine, but he’s too old now . His mouth has grown too weak for the taste of wine . Though, he might still stop and find a good tea shop .

“Hm?” It felt as if somewhat was softly tapping his right shoulder . Reflexively, he turned and saw that no one was there .

“Whoosh . ” There was a sound of a light breeze behind him, almost indistinguishable from the noise of the street .

The old man suddenly realized what was happening, and his brows furrowed in surprise . A dangerous streak crossed his eyes .

Good, someone dares to steal from me!

Hehe, got it . Gu Nan’s hand was like a snake, and it maneuvered without a single sound, gently tugging on the rope .

With a slight pull, the purse had already fallen and a hand waited below .

Yes, mission accomplished . Gu Nan’s mouth formed a slight smirk, and as she was about to melt back into the crowd, a hand firmly grasped her arm .

A slightly hoarse voice said calmly, “Little boy, stealing is not the way of a gentleman . ”

The old man turned his head, and a pair of sharp eyes scanned the thief .

“…” Just for being on the receiving end of that gaze, Gu Nan felt like going from the hot summer to plunging into a tub of ice . Cold sweat began to form on her forehead, and her heart began to race .

When the old man saw Gu Nan’s face, his gaze turned a little bit awkward . Then his eyes fell on her slightly raised chest and nodded, “Oh, it seems I was wrong . It’s a little girl . ”

God, who said that the old men were slow! Come out, I promise I won’t beat you!

With a flicker of the eyes, Gu Nan spotted an empty street .

slip

But as she tried to maneuver out, the old man’s hand was like a knot, anchoring her there .

The man remained without a single disturbance, all while Gu Nan pulled ferociously . But, it was of no use .

Hm? The old man frowned slightly . His hands tightened, and he was already exerting 80% of his strength .

He’s well aware of his own strength . Although he’s old, his power without using internal strength is at least 600 jin . (300kg)

Even the might of two or three men would not budge him .

Yet this seemingly young girl forced him to use 80% of that strength, which is at least four or five hundred jin .

This girl has good strength! The old man thought to himself, but he still did not release his grip .

Damn it, what’s this old man doing? Are all people so weird? Gu Nan had the urge to cry . It was only stealing money for a meal, how did this happen?

After pulling enough to realize that continuing would be stupid, Gu Nan took a deep breath and smiled at the old man . “Oh, hello, sir, life is really hard, right? How about letting me go? May we meet each other upon the mountains and rivers, and today’s grace will not be forgotten . ”

The girl’s tone was light and dispelling . The old man simply smiled and reached out and retrieved the purse from Gu Nan’s hand .

He looked at her from top to bottom . She’s certainly dressed very poorly . There was even some mud that dried on her face . Perhaps her family met some misfortune and she’s the remnant . “Girl, where are you from?”

“I…” Gu Nan hesitated, she didn’t even know where this place was, much less provide a name .

Coughing slightly, Gu Nan’s eyes evaded his and said, “I don’t remember . ”

“You don’t remember?” The old man furrowed his brows for a second . “Your family?”

With nothing to hide, Gu Nan simply bowed her head and said, “None . ”

This was at least a true statement, and it’s long since been a way of life .

Good grief, no father or mother, even their own home has been forgotten . Looking at the girl with her head bowed, the old man’s eyes showed some helplessness, and the iron grasp seems to have loosened . Alas, this is such a troubled world .

“If you don’t want to be turned in to the officials, come with me . ” The old man released his hand and turned to walk away .

Oh? It seems this old man doesn’t have any underhanded thoughts .

Gu Nan looked down at herself, and although she didn’t want to admit it, she’s quite the pretty girl . Nothing good would probably come from following strange men .

“Don’t think about running . It would still be very simple for this old man to catch you . ” The old man glanced back and said with a confident tone .

Gu Nan heaved a sigh and started to follow the old man through the streets .

There was a small teahouse on the roadside, although it was more of a tea stall . It was an ugly structure held up by bamboo and thatched with hay .

There were a few tables in it, but the wooden tables were rough and coarse . There was a worn-down bed on the side, and this place probably functioned as a house for the owners .

The place was stuffed with people . In the sweltering weather, travelers would like a break from the sun and roadside tea shops were a popular choice .

People would come for tea, food, and to chat, and the teahouse was lively with discussions .

In the corner, there was a table with two people . The old gentleman poured himself a cup of tea and gazed out into the street . The teenager lifted up a rice bowl and was rapidly taking huge mouthfuls of food .